Driving-gear mechanism for motor vehicles



A. J. EVANS DRIVING GEAR MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Dec. 2,1930.

Dec. 2, 1930. A. J. EVANS 1,783,780

DRIVING GEAR MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES I Dec. 2, 1930. A. J. EVANS DRIVING GEAR MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed May 4.' 1927' 5 sheets-sheet s Patented Dc. 2, 1930 UNITED SQTTES intros J, Evans, OFHMINNEAPOL'IS, MINNnsoTA IrmviivG-enArci4 MEcnAN'Is'M ron Moron vEmcLEs Application nled'May 4,71a2v7.- serial No. 188,848.

This invention relates fto variable speed driving gear mechanism for motor vehicles and especially'for motor Vehicles where'heavy traction is needed. The invention is especialand busses wherein the strain on the propel-` ling shaft and differential elements is eX- ceedingly great. n

An important ob] whereby great variety may be obtained inthe gear ratios'at which the two traction wheels "l are driven and whereby the greater part of the driving strain will be removed roInthe propeller shaftand differential elements and will be distributed upon heavy driving .elements mounted in the wheel structure.

A further object of'my invention is to vprovide variable speed driving gear mechanism interposed :between the diierential and the wheels of a motor driven vehicle whereby each of the" wheels may be driven at a plural-v ity of speeds relative to the propellingirshaft and whereby aplurality ofresultant speeds or ear ratios will'be obtainable through the di erential' mechanism,V and itsV 4connection with the wheels;

y Another object is tov-provide in structures 35 concentric jack tubesfor sleeves disposed within the axle housing.` j Y Y A still further object is to provide lin driving gear mechanism of vthe class described,

means for locking together. the planetaryV "40 gear mechanism forthetwo fraction' wheels and meansfor reversing the movement ofthe wheels;`

c Another Objectis to provide .in sucha de-V vice, means for efficiently lubricating the working parts isolated from 'the' brake side 'of the wheel in such a manner that the lubri-` cant cannot work its way-"to any of the braking elements. A Y -4 .f Y y Y rEhese and other objectsV and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the folect .ofjmy invention is to `L10 provide a simple but highly efficient driving through the wheel structures and are rigidly the vehicle positivelyhoilding .said sleeves Vlowing description made in connectionlwith the accompanyingdrawings, in which likel rererence characters refer to similar parts,

throughout lthe several views, and in which:Y K 5 ly adapted for use in heavy trucks, tractors :Figfl isa horizontal longitudinallsection ofapret'erred `embodiment otmy aXle and wheel structure; Y i

Fig. 2 is a :cross section of the planetary gear system, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l; L Fig. 3 is a horizontal longitudinal section o on a larger scale of a specific form of differentialV mechanism used, and its vconnection with the jaClrtubesV of my transmission systern; f

, Fig. 4L is a cross section taken ontheline 65V c-ltofFigSgand i Fig. 5 is a Vcross section taken on the line 5-5 of Figz.A Y

' In the drawings, av special type Vof diii'erential mechanism, to be later described, is indi- .cated as an entirety by the letter Aconnected for driving with the `driving `or propeller shaft 6 by means of bevel pinion 7. AVv suitable differential housing 8,, having the usual removable inspection plates is provided, en.-y closing` the differential and itsfconnections withthe driving vmembers in .my axle structure. Diierential case18 is secured at its ends tothe tubular..axle housings 9 which extend connected to the heavy flanged sleeves or bushings 10. Asshown, the flange sleeved members l0 are slipped over the ends of 4axle housings;9 abutting againstrstop shoulders 10a and retaining rings `ll threadedly and in-w 35A teriorly Y engage the outer ends; of said axle f housings, clamping sleeves lOvinfcoeoperation shoulders 10a. Suitable torquearms B rigidly connect sleeveslO with the frame of against rotation upon the axle housing 9,

Outer nand'inner jacktubes 12V VVandl'; are

housed ywithin each of the aXle housings `9, 'said tubes being concentrically disposed, and inner jack` tubes 13 being longitudinallyslidable within outer jack tubes 12 and within the differential driving sleeves` 14.

The V,wheel structure, planetary gear mechanismfand driving connections between 'the dierentialjand the wheels is" the same for each of the tract-ion wheels and to simplify my description, said parts for one of the traction wheels only will be described. The outer jack tube 12 is loosely mounted on the outer extremity of driving sleeve 14 and is provided at its inner peripheral edge with a plurality of dogs v12a adapted to mesh for driving, with dogs 15a of shipper collar 15 which is splined on driving sleeve 14.

Inner jack tube 13 is splined with the interior of dilerential driving sleeve 14 and is also connected to sleeve 14 by means of slot and pin engagement between a tongue 13a, secured to the inner extremity of said jack tube and a suitable shipper collar 1G loosely mounted on the exterior of driving sleeve 14. Elongated slots indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 3 are provided for the accommodation of the pins13 whereby said inner jack tube is capable oi considerable longitudinal movement. The outer extremity of inner jack tube 13 carries the relatively small driving pinion 17 capable of being disposed in three positions; one for direct driving, one for low speed driving and an intermediate or neutral position, as will later be explained.

Outer jack tube 12 carries at its outer end disposed Within the wheel structure the relatively large pinion 18 concentric with the wheel, said pinion having engagement with a plurality of planetary gears 19, said gears be* ing pivotally mounted on the inner side of a relatively large concave-convex disc member 20. Planeta-ry gears 19 are each provided with a relatively large and a relatively small cog 19a and 19?) respectively and the smaller cogs 19?) are constantly in mesh with the larger pinion 18 secured to the outer jack tube. Disc 20 is rigidly secured tothe heavy wheel body 21 in order that said wheel may be driven about the heavy bushing or sleeve member 10. Circumferentially spaced rollers 28 may be provided mounted from the inner periphery of the wheel telly 210 engaging a race on the external periphery of the internal gear 22a.

A heavy disc member 22 carrying a large internal gear 22a is disposed in the wheel structure concentric with ack tubes 12 and 13 and rigidly secured to the flanged bushing 10. This internal gear is also in constant mesh with the smaller cogs 19t of planetary gears 19. `It will be seen that When outer jack tube 12:is driveably connected with differential driving sleeve 14 by means of the engagement 01"' dogs 12a and 15a, the wheel will be driven through pinion 18, through planetary gears 19 in mesh With internal gear 22a, thereby driving disc 2O which is rigidly connected to the frame of the wheel. Before the wheels are driven by outer jack tube 12, inner jack tube 13 must be moved longitudinally by shipper collar 17 into neutral position, intermediate between the position shown in the drawings, and the extreme position where pinions 15 mesh with the heavy internal clutch members 23 mounted within the boss portion of disc 20. rlhe traction wheel is, of course, driven at an intermediate speed through its driving connection with outer jack tube 12.

The wheel may be driven at two dilerent speeds by inner jack tube 13. 1lWhen tube 13 is longitudinally moved to extreme outer position, pinion 17 will engage clutch member 23 and the traction wheel will be directly driven at high speed. Low speed for each of the traction wheels is obtained when inner tube `v13 is disposed in extreme inward position, as shown in the drawings, driving pinion 17 being at that time meshed with the larger cogs 19a of planetary gears 19. When so engaged gears 19 will be caused to travel around the heavy internal gear 22a revolving disc 20 and driving the wheels at low speed.

Shipper collars 15 and 16 may be actuated to connect the outer and inner acl tubes respectively for driving the wheels by any suitable mechanism, such as the shipper arms 25 and 26 respectively, rigidly connected to short vertical rock shafts 25a and 26a which may be journaled in the differential housing 8. Suitable apparatus (not shown) of the selective shift lever type may be connected with the rock shafts 25a and 26a to permit the driver of the motor vehicle to conveniently' control the: driving of the traction wheels.

The body of the traction wheel includes a heavy hub portion 21a encircling the bushing 10, (suitable roller bearings 24 being provided between said parts) the web portions 21?), and the felly portions 210 carrying the tires. It will be noticed that the wheel body is so constructed to al'ord a large recess et considerable depth to accommodate the planetary gear mechanism. and that said recess is closed by means of disc member 2O which is rigidly secured to the felly portion of the wheel. On the inner side of the wheel body a relatively large annular recess is formed concentric with the` axis of the wheel, wherein the brake mechanism for the wheels may be housed, said recessl being entirely isolated from the planetary gear mechanism by means of web 21?) and telly 210.

fly diliferential mechanism not only is connected tor driving the inner and outer jack tubes, but includes means for locking the driving gear mechanism of the two traction wheels together to prevent the equalizing effeet of the dilferential and also includes means lfor reversing the movement of the traction wheels( A heavy spider case 27 is employed,

rotatably mounted on the differential driving z sleeves 14 by means of suitable ball bearings 29. A pair of oppositely disposed ring gears 30 are loosely mounted about spider case 27, suitablejball bearings 31 being provided.

Ring gears 30 are both meshed with the driv ingfpinion of pr''opeller shattiand are dlriven: in oppositeLdi-rectiens. f A. relatively large shipperl cellar 32. is; tsplined .to `the me# dialfportion of spider case 27 carrying at each of' its peripheral edges, dogs 82a 'adapted to mesh With dogsA 31d on"v said ring gea-rs. Spiderl case`27 contains the usual differential'- gears 33 which arev rigidly secured to the difi'erential' driving sleeves 14;. `One ofthe dif# Aterential' dri-vingfsleevesill: has a slidableA sleeve telescopedfwithin the inner end thereof, saidslidable sleeve 4bef-ing connected` with said drivlngsleeve-by pin andi slot len-Y gagementl Sleeve 311 l is provi dedV With dogs f atv its inner` end adapted to engagedogsd ot a short sleeve' 35 rigidly telescoped Withinv 4thelinner end of the other differentialdrivin@ sleeve i141.- The engagement ofsaidfdogslis eiiected by meansof a suitableshipper collar 3,6 loosely mounted on said first mentioned driving sleeve` and connected with. said inner sleeve 34 by meansof pins 3666'said prins Werking insuitable slots provided in driving sleeve 14. A plurality Lof' radially `disposed differential pinions 37v are mountedin the usual manner on the spider 38,-sa1d pinrons being in mesh'vwithv differential gears 33 `and having outwardly projecting Vshafts or pins 89 journaled inf circumferential-ly spaced recesses or seats provided on the interior oi'thev spider casing. rPhe hub otspider 38de journaled on the opposingV annular Viangesid of..

Suitable 'anchoring the differential gears.y Y members ll supportl the spider casing 27 from differential housing 8, ball bearings ZiQIbe-l Ymg provided between said anchoring ineinbers andthe ends o1"- saidspidercase. Shipper collar 32, for drivably connecting the ring gears .130 with. the spider casing, maybe f the dilerentialhousing? Shipper collar 6 may-.be shiftedto loclrdrivlng sleeves 14% 'tegether by similarshippermechanism 411i mounted on a vertical vshaft also .journaled in thedilierential housing. l V

Operatie@ i 1 The "operation of my mechanisnr may be;

` lnuFig. V1 the inner j ack `tie-.bes 13 are showin disposed in'exftrenie' inwardrposition with their driving pinionv 17 meshed withy the *i larger cogsof planetarygears 119. DiscsiQO andtheaivheels Will beV driven at vlovv, speed'lby inea ns of. the planetary gea'rniechanism: pin-V ions 17 in, en -operationA With internal gears greatly re'ducingthegear ratio. 'ItWill" be.A .that the.Y greater 'portion ot the v driving strain will be received bythe heavy internal 22a, and the heavy planetarygears, and that only a `relatively small aniountof strain will bepnt upon tliediiierential and propeller shaft, siinceall gear reduction taires place'iln' this speed. i

shifted byany suitable inea-11s,' such as-the shipper' arm 1lflrigic'lly secured to thefvertical clvshaft 43d Journaled 1n the rear portion@ the elements: Within thetvheel structure. rllhe heavy torqlfue arms B relieve the: ends: of the. axle housing v9 Vort alfl the drivingstraifn.,

These heavy arms are: rigidly. secured to. the flanges of sleeves 10 audit@ thelchassisiframe of the vehicle.

. When inner jackV tubes 13ers projected'to extreme outward position,l pinions. l? Wilh mesh' with clutch membersfQt-B and disc 20 and the Wheeiwin badrivea in hignspeea directly from `the differential: drivingsleeves. Y

The planetary'v gear mechanism will idle in Then the driving pinio'nsiA 17` are disposed in neutral er intermediate.position andthe Y outer jack tubes 12 arel driven by interlockingV dogs 12a and 15a, 'an intermediate speed on'. both tractienvvheelsvvill be obtained through' `the larger driving pinionsA 18, Which mesh with the smaller cogsJ on'planetaryv gears 19u in `co-'o'peration with the internal. gear 22d` Y topcause the discs 2O and wheels to be driven at a speed intermediate tothe speeds previously described. In this speed, it Willagainf be seen that a large amountoffthe driving strain is placed upon `the heavy internal gears 22a and the otherI ,driving elements i Several resultantvspeeds may be obtained throu'glfi; the action. of thel differential mechanism When .one of the vvheels is driven atene speed and the other Wheel is driven-at a diiV Y ferent speed. For example,y assuming V.the right Wheel driven at loW speedthrough the inner jack tube and the left Wheel' drivenat van intermediate speed bythe outer jack tube,

When'the differential driving sleeves are not interloeked, la .resultant speed,A intermediate otlovv and.intermediate speeds will be ob-V` tained.'` .Such resultantfspeeds'. are oftendel vsirableuin heavy Vtrucks-and tractors.

J The oppositely disposedV `ring gears 30 perf` mit all of the speeds'V described" to be obtained either in'forwardor reverse` it being only f n necessary to shift collarBQbyineans of. rock the'other o'f'saidv ring gears. r

shaftrld to engage-saidicollar With one o r In man vinotor` vehicles" itv Willbe desirable Y to only use the'inner'j ack-tube driving' gear structurefvvhilein the heavier types Where morevariationin the gear speed ratios is de-4 sired both the innerfand outer jack tubes may be utilized.

The. large annular recesses Within which the severaldriving elements of thev planetaryv gear systems are vhoused Lconstitute eflicient lated froinrtheopposite side ofthe body of the Wheel; "Thus, 'the'.several: driving parts` lubricating chambers and are oompletelyisol-4 i may be eiciently lubricated and oil and grease cannot Work its Way to the brake mechanism which is housed Within the annular recess disposed at the inner sides of the Wheels. The torque arms B and axle housings 9 hold the heavy bushings 10 and large internal gear 22a rigid and receive the greater part of the driving strain.

It Wilhof course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportion of parts Without departing from the scope of the invention.

To replace either the inner and outer ack tubes 13 and 12 respectively, it is only necessary to remove the heavy disc 2O from the elly of the Wheel by loosening the anchoring bolts or other retaining means employed, unfasten the pins 13b, Which slidably secure the tongues of the inner jack tubes 13 to the differential driving sleeves 14 and Withdraw the jack tubes from the open side of the Wheel. This can all be accomplished Without removing the Wheel from the axle housing or Without jacking up the Wheel.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination With the differential mechanism and a traction Wheel oi' a motor vehicle, a tubular driving axle connectable With said differential and carrying a driving element adjacent .its outer end, a second driving axleconcentrically disposed Within said first mentioned axle connected to said diterential and also carrying a driving element ,2 adjacent its outer end, a fixed transmission element, transmission elements carried by said Wheel adapted to be driven either by said outer axle or by said inner axle, and means for connecting said outer and inner axles for driving with said transmission elements, whereby the wheel may may be driven at a plurality of different speeds.

2. In combination With the differential mechanism, axle housing and a tract-ion Wheel of a motor vehicle, said Wheel having a disc,

a tubular driving axle connectable for driving With said diierential and carrying a driving element adjacent its outer end, a second driving axle concentrically disposed Within said tubular driving axle and adapted to be connected for driving With said differential and also carrying a driving element adjacent its outer end, a plurality of double planetary members mounted Von the disc of said Wheel, each of said double members having a gear adapted to be connected With the driving element of said lirst mentioned driving axle and a gear adapted to be engaged with the driving element of said second driving axle.

3. In combination With the differential mechanism, axle housing and traction Wheel of a motor vehicle, said Wheel having an outerA disc, a tubular driving axle connectable for driving with the differential mechanism, a driving element adjacent the outer end of said axle, a second drivin axle concen-I trically disposed Within said rst mentioned tubular axle and adapted to be connected for driving With said diii'erential mechanism, a large stationary internal gear mounted at the outer end of said axle housing, planetary double gear members carried by said disc, each having a smaller gear meshed With said stationary internal gear and each having a larger gear, said smaller gears being also in mesh With the driving element of said first mentioned tubular driving axle, and means for enga-ging the driving element of said second driving axle with the larger gears of said double gear elements.

4. In combination With the differential mechanism, an axle housing and a traction Wheel of a motor vehicle, said Wheel having an outer disc, a driving axle connectable for driving With said diferential mechanism and carrying at its outer end a driving member, a relatively large stationary internal gear mounted on the outer end of said axle housing, a plurality of double planetary gear members mounted on said Wheel disc and each having a relatively small gear in constant mesh With said internal gear and each having a relatively large gear, a concentric clutch element carried by said Wheel plate in alinemcnt With the driving member of said driving axle, and means for moving said driving element into mesh With the larger gears oi' said several double planetary members or -with said clutch element to cause said Wheel to be driven at tvvo dierent speeds.

5. VIn combination With the differential mechanism, the axle housing and a traction Wheel of a motor vehicle, a driving axle connectable for driving With said differential mechanism and carrying at its outer end a driving member, said traction Wheel comprising a heavy discfcarrying a felly and having a hub rotatably mounted on bearings Which extend circumferentially about the outer end of said axle housing, a stationary disc mounted on the outer end of said axle housing Within the felly of said Wheel and having a large internal gear therein, an outer plate carried by said Wheel, planetary gear mechanism carried by said outer plate and in constant mesh With said internal gear, a disc for said internal gear having a cylindrical Hange spaced from the felly of the Wheel and bearings between said telly and said flange.

6. Driving gear mechanism for motor vehicles having in combination a differential mechanism provided with the usual ring gears, differential driving sleeves aiiixed to the respective ring gears, and independent transmission mechanlsm for driving each Wheel at a plurality of speeds connected With said diiierential driving sleeves, a locking element aiiixed Within one of said differential driving sleeves and a complementary locking element Within the other diiferential drvloo ing sleeve non-rotatively connected therewith but mounted for longitudinal sliding movementy and operating means for interlocking said locking elements to cause said Wheels to be positively driven Without the eEeot of the diii'erentlal mechanism when deslred.l

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

AMos J. EVANS. 

